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PlanSmart

Project structure

PlanSmart is structured in four project clusters and eleven subprojects.

The cluster I: ‘Risks and Effectiveness’ will generate system knowledge on water-borne challenges and the effects of nature-based solutions, also in comparison with technical alternatives.

The cluster II: ‘Co-Design’ concerns transdisciplinary planning of nature-based solutions for the generation of target and transformation knowledge, as well as the identification, development and testing of methods for the co-generation and transfer of knowledge.

The cluster III: ‘Governance and Implementation’ focus on the development of transformation knowledge and deals with payments for ecosystem services and other innovative governance and business models.

The cluster IV: ‘Overarching Tasks’, the cooperation within the research group members and with external partners is coordinated, a project-internal evaluation is implemented, and the synthesis of the findings and their dissemination will be organized.

Subprojects

  • WP I.1 ‘Ecological Effectiveness’ aims at modelling ecological potentials, risks and effectiveness of nature-based solutions concerning the conservation and enhancement of ecosystem services and biodiversity. Methods and tools for quantifying and (participatory) valuing effects of land use options will be developed and tested in practice.
  • Researcher in charge: Paulina Guerrero, Leibniz Universität Hannover; Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dagmar Haase, Humboldt-Universität Berlin and Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ.

  • WP I.2 ‘Social Effects’ will investigate the social effects of nature-based solutions, including an analysis of institutional context conditions, preferences of local actors, social success factors and barriers for their design and implementation as well as contributions to social objectives and human well-being. Furthermore, the project will evaluate if transdisciplinary planning process can contribute to transformative research.
  • Researcher in charge: Dr. Barbara Schröter, ZALF; together with Jennifer Henze, Sarah Gottwald and Prof. Dr. Christian Albert, Ruhr-Universität Bochum.

  • WP I.3 ‘Economic Effectiveness’ will analyse the economic effects of nature-based solutions, including modelling of economic risks and impacts and benefit-costs-rations of different solution options. Methods for empirical assessment and monetary and non-monetary economic valuation of technical and nature-based solutions shall be developed and new funding models such as green bonds shall be explored.
  • Researcher in charge: Mario Brillinger, Leibniz Universität Hannover; Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reimund Schwarze, Europa-Universität Viadrina and Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ.

  • WP I.4 ‘Integrative Assessment of NBS’ will analyse the potential of NBS to contribute to multiple social challenges and integrative development goals. A pragmatic method will be developed to identify opportunity spaces for nature-based solutions that contributes to localize and advance multiple development goals simultaneously.
  • Researcher in charge: Dr. Stefan Schmidt, Ruhr-Universität Bochum; together with Prof. Dr. Christian Albert, Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
  • WP II.1 ‘Transdisciplinary planning’ will further develop theories, methods and instruments for the planning of nature-based solutions.
  • Researcher in charge: Prof. Dr. Christian Albert, Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
  • WP II.2 ‘Geodesign’ develops and tests a geodesign tool to support participatory planning through multi-criterial analyses and model-based optimization via GIS. The tool will be tested in real-world settings by using a multi-mode-table PC.
  • Researcher in charge: Sarah Gottwald, Leibniz Universität Hannover; Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ron Janssen, Spatial Information Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
  • WP II.3 ‘Planning of NBS in Wadi Landscapes’
  • Researcher in charge: Christoph Dankers, Bödeker Landscape Architects; Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Christian Albert, Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
  • WP II.4 ‘Knowledge Co-Generation’ concerns the investigation of conditions in transdisciplinary processes that lead to the joint generation of knowledge for planning decisions by involved actors. The focus is on the interactions between actors for the convey knowledge and simultaneously gain information for planning and implementing. Selected approaches are tested in workshops and evaluated concerning their effects through interviews, surveys and focus groups. Besides the WP analyses how the planning process and collaboration in real-world experiments can contribute to transformative research.
  • Researcher in charge: Jennifer Henze, Leibniz Universität Hannover; Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Eva Barlösius, Leibniz Universität Hannover.
  • WP III.1 ‘Financing instruments and governance models’ investigates the role and limitations especially of collaborative governance models for successfully implementing nature-based solutions. One focus is on governance models that address interest conflicts in river basins, the role of financing instruments like payments for ecosystem services and the effect of micro- and macro-governance.
  • Researcher in charge: Claire Nicolas, ZALF (Associated PhD student); Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Bettina Matzdorf, ZALF & Leibniz Universität Hannover.
  • WP III.2 ‘Behavioral Economics’ uses approaches of experimental and behavioral economics to investigate individual behavior in economically relevant decision-making situations on the basis of psychological assumptions. Decision processes regarding the implementation of nature-based solutions are characterized by a number of social, ecological, economic and institutional uncertainties. Against this background, the targeted experimental assessment of individual risk preferences of relevant decision-makers in different decision-making situations allows conclusions to be drawn on the design of rules and organizational structures to promote the implementation of nature-based solutions.
  • Researcher in charge: Edward Ott, ZALF; Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Bettina Matzdorf, ZALF & Leibniz Universität Hannover.
  • WP III.3 ‘Innovative Governance and Business Models’ investigates, develops and explores novel approaches for financing and realizing nature-based solutions. Potential foci include suitable institutional arrangements and actor cooperations as well as promising combinations of policy approaches, economic incentives and civil society initiatives. Methods used are e.g. Social Network Analysis, interviews, workshops and focus groups.
  • Researcher in charge: Dr. Barbara Schröter, ZALF; Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Bettina Matzdorf, ZALF & Leibniz Universität Hannover.